The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) promoted a podcast episode featuring U.K.‑based social psychologist Clifford Stott, who hailed local anti‑immigration protests as “deeply wedded to … nonviolent protest,” even though roughly 60 arrests have been made at the same demonstrations.
In the October 28, 2025 episode of its “Talking Beat” podcast, the PPB spotlighted Stott’s observations after he visited Portland this April to help train officers and observe protest‑crowds. He pointed to the protest symbol of an inflatable frog and praised what he called a shift toward peaceful symbolism rather than confrontation. Meanwhile, local arrests tied to the protests near the city’s immigration‑enforcement facility have included charges of assault and property damage, raising questions about the celebration of the events as “peaceful.”
The PPB has expanded its dialogue‑based policing model, using uniformed “Dialogue Liaison Officers” whose mission is “connection” rather than enforcement, though they do retain arrest power. The bureau emphasised this model in the podcast as part of its strategy for managing large demonstrations.
This situation raises concerns about the growing gap between law enforcement messaging and actual outcomes on the ground. When officials label protests as peaceful despite numerous arrests for serious offenses, it risks eroding public trust and diminishing the importance of law and order. While protecting the right to assemble is essential, so is the consistent enforcement of laws to maintain safety, property rights, and accountability—regardless of the political cause behind a protest.
